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(N oModell) I T. B.-A SHPORD. v

JOURNAL FOR WINDOW BLIND SLATS.

No. 564,137. I Patented July 14,1896,

Iriventor.

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W itnesses.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS B. ASHFORD, OF KIN STON, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALF TOHENRY D. HARPER, SR, OF SAME PLACE.

JOURNAL FOR WINDOW-BLIND SLATS.

SPECIFICATlON forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,137, dated July 14,1896.

Application filed May 7,1896. $erial'No. 590,592. [No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. ASHFORD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Kinston, in the county of Lenoir and State of NorthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Journalsfor Window-Blind Slats and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in journals principally adapted foruse in connection with that class of window shutters or blinds providedwith pivoted slats connected together by a vertical rod, and-is intendedto replace the pivots at the ends of the slats when they become broken.

In the ordinary construction of such shutters or blinds the slats areprovided at the ends with wooden pivots or journals, which fit androtate or oscillate in bearings'in the side rails of the shutter orblind. These pivots frequently become broken, necessitating considerabletrouble and expense in repairing the same.

My invention is intended to obviate such difficulties and to provide ajournal or pivot which can be economically manufactured and be easilyand readily substituted for such broken pivots without requiring theassistance of a skilled mechanic.

The invention can also be employed for strengthening the wooden spindlesof vehicles and other axles, as it can be readily applied thereto.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a window-blindor shutterslat provided with my improved journal at one end. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thejournal detached.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates a window-shutterslat, and 2 the ordinary wooden journal thereof.

The numeral 3 designates my improved journal, consisting of a piece ofstiff or stout wire, of suitable length, bent over near the center andthen formed with a number of oppositely-extending coils 4 and the endsextended outwardly in a straight line, forming two parallel arms 5 and 6of unequallengths, and the extremities thereof bent at right angles andpointed, forming lugs '7, which are driven into the slat, whereby thejournal is securely held in place.

It will thus be seen that the coils form a tubular journal which can beinserted in the bearings in the side rails of the shutter, and when usedfor axle-spindles it can be slipped over the same and the lugs at theends of the arms driven into the axle. By this means the spindle isstrengthened, and the coils serve also to prevent wear of the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is As an improvedarticle, a journal consisting of the wire bent over near the center andoppositely coiled, and the ends bent outwardly forming parallel arms ofunequal length, the extremities of which are pointed and bent inwardlyat right angles; substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

THOMAS B. ASHFORD. Witnesses:

BENNETT S. J oNEs, M. S. DUOKETT.

